Error Unsupported CPU Installed-message Pentium4 w/3.4Ghz upgradeHELP

OldtimeGamerFeb 19, 2013, 11:12 PM

As a newer member I'm trying to tackle a project but somehow got in a little over my head...despite how replacing a CPU is about a 3 on the 1-10 scale of hard stuff to do...but I really need some help.

I have an older HP a1240n desktop computer. It was purchased a while back. It has a 3.0Ghz processor (which uses an LGA 775, “Socket T”, Intel desktop CPU socket.) It worked just fine, but a little slow for my wife’s home office needs. It has a Asus PTGD-LA (Goldfish3) Goldfish3-GL8E motherboard, as shown here:

Based on my research for the Goldfish3 motherboards specs, the largest CPU it will support is 3.4Ghz, so I bought a Intel Pentium 4 3.4 Ghz / 1M / 800 Mhz socket 775 CPU processor SL7J8 The CPU I bought is used and was sold as “tested” and passed.

Once I installed the new processor, I tried to start up the computer system and pressed the F1 key to get the bios screen to appear ( I think it's F1 on my system...but not really sure) but all I get is a message “Error Unsupported CPU Installed” and the computer will shut off in a few seconds. Which it does.

Whoops...I didn't realize the bump thing was not allowed. But very understandable and I apologize to the moderators for doing so. Weird..I just sent you a PM. Its like you read my mind or something.... Thanks for replying.

Nope...I didn't update the bios before installing the new CPU.

Before I tacked it...I read a few places that I was supposed to log in by pressing F1 (or what ever the proper function key is for my system...never really found a straight answer for the HP a1240n) when the start up screen appears and take care of the bios after the install.

********************************************************************Ok...now 1:30 am but I'm thinking I might have just figured out the problem.

Here goes....

My original 3.0Ghz CPU is a Pentium 4 630 SL7Z9 which belongs to the Intel Family 15 model 4. It has an L2 Cache of 2MB and has a 64-bit instruction set.

The one I just installed (that shows "Error Unsupported CPU" is a 3.4Ghz CPU is a Pentium 4 550 #SL7J8 which belongs to the Intel Family 15 model 3. It has an L2 Cache of 1MB and has a 32-bit instruction set.

.....it looks like the correct CPU I need for a 3.4Ghz upgrade should have been and needs to be a 3.4Ghz Pentium 4 650 #SL7Z7 or a "stepping" of #SL8Q6 , which like the 630 also belongs to the Intel Family 15 model 4. It also has an L2 Cache of 2MB and has a 64-bit instruction set...just like the original 3.0Ghz CPU I had.

Interesting indeed. I think that this is the problem..or at least I hope so. I spent a good 4 hours last night trying to trouble shoot the problem. I'm going to purchase a 650 CPU today and see if swapping out to 550 that doesn't work does the trick. At least I hope that's all that's to it.

I read the 630 to 650 should be simply recognized in the bios and I shouldn't have to do anything after restart. I'm going to temporarily put the 630 CPU back in today...just to make sure all is well... and to test out 4GB of DDR2 RAM I also purchased as used.

Just a helpful POI...since its only a 32-bit OS of Windows XP....although I installed 4GB of memory, it would only recognize 3.11GB of it.

I read that the most a 32 bit OS will recognize is typically up to 3.55GB out of the allotted 4GB you may install. Just something to be aware of. Of course if it would have been a 64-bit version of Win XP, then the full 4GB of installed memory would have been recognized.

I'm glad I installed the 4GB, since I then installed an older Radeon X1550 graphics card into the PCI slot. After that addition, the system only shows 2.86GB memory.... since the graphics card taps into the resources, reducing it further.

Hey Iceclock...I managed to figure it out. I need to use a 650 3.4Ghz chipset to upgrade from the 630 CPU that it originally had. The 550 CPU 3.4Ghz (that I thought I could use) was not compatible and the mother board wouldn't recognize it...so my wife's workstation desktop is now happily running at 3.4Ghz...upgraded from a 3.0Ghz. It was a good learning experience.